Top U.S. Treasury Advisor to Promote “Teach Children to Save” Day and Cap "Financial Literacy Month" in Rhode Island

General Treasurer Tavares Reaches Youth Financial Education Milestone

April 25, 2006 (Bristol, RI) – Kimberly A. Reed, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department, John W. Snow, will teach a lesson to second graders at Guiteras Elementary School in Bristol from 9:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. as a part of the U.S. Treasury’s national effort to promote the American Bankers Association Education Foundation’s national “Teach Children to Save Day.”

Reed will be joined by BankNewport teller and customer service representative, Barbara J. Palumbo as they teach from the ABA Education Foundation “Teach Childen to Save” resource kit.  Sandra J. Pattie, BankNewport Executive V.P. and COO and RI Bankers Association Vice President believes, “You can never start too early to teach children the importance of saving and other money management skills that will hopefully make an impression that will last a lifetime.  Financial education is an ongoing effort at BankNewport throughout the year.”  To contact BankNewport, call 401.845.7673.

Guiteras Principal, Sonia Whipp offers, “We are so honored to welcome such a high ranking official from the U.S. Treasury.  We also welcome the opportunity to helpstudents focus on the importance of saving at this highly impressionable age.”

The ABA Education Foundation established National Teach Children to Save Day to spotlight the importance of teaching our nation's youth about saving money.  This event occurs every April when bankers make presentations to students in grades K-12 about budgeting, saving, recognizing needs and wants and how interest makes money grow.  For more information, click here.

This activity has been organized by the Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition; a statewide organization of dozens of partners and supporters with the mission, “To improve the financial literacy of individuals in Rhode Island.”

Also on April 25th, 2005, RI General Treasurer, Paul J. Tavares will be participating in “Teach a Child to Save Day,” by delivering his “Money & Me” program at the Oaklawn School in Cranston, RI.  On April 25th 2006 the Treasurer will have spoken to over 15,000 students.The Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition will honor the General Treasurer’s milestone at their annual Financial Literacy Leaders’ Luncheon later that day.

The “Money & Me” program takes Treasurer Tavares to schools across the state and is focused on teaching Rhode Island children the importance of saving and combating the low savings, high debt practices of Americans.  Since 1998, General Treasurer Paul J. Tavares has visited public and private schools throughout Rhode Island.  The program has become so popular that school officials call to request repeat presentations.  The Treasurer has visited 130 schools at least once, some more than once.  For more information on the “Money & Me” milestone, contact Rebecca Johnson in the General Treasurer’s office at (401) 222-2397.

# # #